EC should take immediate steps to expand voter registration centers – New Force

The New Force has raised concerns over what it regards as harsh restrictions on voter registration access for the next general elections in 2024.

It voiced concerns about the decline in voter registration locations, which went from over 33,000 in the last election to just 1,068 centers, which represents 3 percent of the 2020 polling station total.

The New Force’s founder and leader, Nana Kwame Bediako, declared in a statement dated Friday, May 17, that the significance of such a sharp decline in voter registration points cannot be over emphasized.

“With a narrow 20-day window for voter registration, it becomes increasingly challenging for eligible and unregistered voters to participate in the democratic process.

“This limitation effectively undermines the fundamental right of Ghanaian citizens to freely choose their leaders through fair and accessible elections. We are compelled to question the rationale behind these restrictive measures,” part of the statement read.

According to the New Force, the Electoral Commission (EC) is crucial to maintaining the fairness and inclusivity of the electoral process, and it is crucial that choices about voter registration access are made in a transparent manner that takes Ghanaians’ democratic rights into account.

The New Force urged the EC to reconsider its approach and take immediate “steps to expand voter registration access.”

“Our counterparts in other nations across many continents uphold the principles of democracy by providing open and accessible voter registration until just weeks before elections.

“We implore the Electoral Commission to follow this example and prioritise the rights of Ghanaian citizens to participate in the electoral process freely and fairly.”

The New Force went on to say that it hoped the EC would listen to its concerns and move quickly to resolve the urgent matter of voter registration access.

The Electoral Commission began the nationwide limited voter registration exercise on May 7 and is expected to end on May 27.